Long-Term Follow-Up after Laser-Assisted Pulmonary Metastasectomy Shows Complete Lung Function Recovery.

Preserving maximum lung function is a fundamental goal of parenchymal-sparing pulmonary laser surgery. Long-term studies for follow-up of lung function after pulmonary laser metastasectomy are lacking. However, a sufficient postoperative lung function is essential for quality of life and reduces potential postoperative complications.

Retrospective survival analysis of 237 consecutive patients with multiple pulmonary metastases from advanced renal cell carcinoma exclusively resected by a 1318-nm laser.

Objectives: Despite the introduction of new target drugs to treat pulmonary metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), complete surgical resection still generates significantly longer survival. We analysed the survival outcome for patients with pulmonary mRCC after extended laser metastasectomy with up to 110 metastases and systematic lymphadenectomy to assess the utility and value of laser resection in the respective patient groups even with high number of metastases.

Methods: Between 1996 and 2012, 237 patients (150 men, 87 women) underwent curative intended pulmonary laser metastasectomy of mRCC.

Farmer's lung in a case after bullectomy.

We present a case of farmer's lung (FL) with the primary presenting feature of a large bulla in the lung. A 70-year-old nonsmoking woman with dyspnea on exercise was referred for surgical resection of a large bulla in the lung. The postoperative evaluation of the lung tissue revealed a follicular lymphocytic alveolitis and loosely formed granulomas suspicious for hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP).

CD31, EDNRB and TSPAN7 are promising prognostic markers in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma revealed by genome-wide expression analyses of primary tumors and metastases.

Currently used clinicopathological parameters are insufficient for a reliable prediction of metastatic risk and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). To identify prognostic genes, the expression profiles of primary ccRCC obtained from patients with different DFS--eight synchronously, nine metachronously and seven not metastasized tumors--were determined by genome-wide expression analyses. Synchronously and metachronously metastasized primary ccRCC differed in the expression of 167 genes.

Pneumomediastinum as a primary manifestation of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Background: Patients with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) can present with an insidious onset of their disease without typical fluctuating flu-like symptoms, and there are only signs of chronic respiratory failure caused by the progressive fibrotic lung disease.

Case Report: A 45-year-old man with a pneumomediastinum and interstitial lung disease was referred for further investigations and therapy. No traumatic event or interventional procedure had occurred prior to referral.

Gene signatures of pulmonary metastases of renal cell carcinoma reflect the disease-free interval and the number of metastases per patient.

Our understanding of metastatic spread is limited and molecular mechanisms causing particular characteristics of metastasis are largely unknown. Herein, transcriptome-wide expression profiles of a unique cohort of 20 laser-resected pulmonary metastases (Mets) of 18 patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were analyzed to identify expression patterns associated with two important prognostic factors in RCC: the disease-free interval (DFI) after nephrectomy and the number of Mets per patient. Differentially expressed genes were identified by comparing early (DFI < or = 9 months) and late (DFI > or = 5 years) Mets, and Mets derived from patients with few (< or =8) and multiple (> or =16) Mets.

Is surgery for multiple lung metastases reasonable? A total of 328 consecutive patients with multiple-laser metastasectomies with a new 1318-nm Nd:YAG laser.

Objective: Our objective was to define the role of a new 1318-nm Nd:YAG laser for lobe- and parenchyma-saving resection of multiple lung metastases.

Patients And Methods: From January 1996 to December 2003, a total of 3267 nodules (10/patient) were removed from 328 patients (164 men/164 women, mean age 61 years). Criteria for eligibility were expanded to any primary tumors with no upper limit of metastases given.

Laser resection technique and results of multiple lung metastasectomies using a new 1,318 nm Nd:YAG laser system.

Background And Objectives: Advantages of a new 1,318 nm Nd:YAG laser based on multiple lung metastasectomies are shown.

Study Design/materials And Methods: Ninety-three percent of 328 patients with metastases (8/patient, range 1-124) had precision laser resections (lobectomy-rate reduced to 7%); this laser delivers 20 kW/cm(2) 1,318 nm power densities with 400 microm fibers, and a focussing handpiece. Absorption in water is tenfold higher.

Increase in number of circulating disseminated epithelial cells after surgery for non-small cell lung cancer monitored by MAINTRAC(R) is a predictor for relapse: A preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer still remains one of the most commonly occurring solid tumors and even in stage Ia, surgery fails in 30% of patients who develop distant metastases. It is hypothesized that these must have developed from occult circulating tumor cells present at the time of surgery, or before. The aim of the present study was to detect such cells in the peripheral blood and to monitor these cells following surgery.

Laser resection of lung metastasis.

Presentation of the laser resection technique for metastatic lung diseases: a new Nd:YAG 1.318 nm wavelength laser system enables the thoracic surgeon to extend indication and include a larger number of patients for pulmonary metastasectomy. This parenchyma-saving technique allows removal of a significantly higher number of lung nodules in comparison to conventional techniques (stapler, clamp resection).

Lobe-sparing resection of multiple pulmonary metastases with a new 1318-nm Nd:YAG laser--first 100 patients.

Background: A new 1318-nm Nd:YAG laser has been developed to utilize the second wavelength (1318 nm; 40 watt) to more precisely cut, coagulate, and seal lung tissue adjacent to pulmonary nodules. This laser allows a precise intraparenchymal nodulectomy with a 5-mm rim of tissue destruction and subsequent lung parenchymal reapproximation to avoid lobar distortion. Resection of multiple, bilateral, and recurrent tumors in the lung is facilitated by this laser technique.